This year’s National Research Conference species of focus is the Sea Turtle. Sea Turtles play a critical role in Florida’s ecology and it’s vital that we protect them. We are pleased to announce that Trevor Proctor will be this year’s Keynote Speaker. Trevor is a research assistant at Purdue University Fort Wayne’s Center of Marine Conservation and Biology and the Environmental Resources Center. His primary interest is in conservation ecology, with a focus on herpetology and marine life. He is also interested in the development of international collaborations that support indigenous communities through science and the protection of biodiversity.

During his undergraduate years, Trevor surveyed snakes and freshwater turtles in mid-western wetlands. Now he is working on a master’s degree, with his primary research focused on the nesting ecology of leatherback sea turtles on the west coast of Africa. He has presented his work at the mid-west Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the International Sea Turtle Symposium in Cartagena, Colombia. In addition to his master’s research, Trevor is preparing to head to the Pacific coast of Costa Rica to work as a field manager for The Leatherback Trust, a not-for-profit organization promoting the conservation of leatherbacks and other turtles at risk of extinction.